Upper Macungie Township police recently conducted several patrols as part of a special aggressive driving funding project.

"The Pennsylvania Aggressive Driving Enforcement and Education Project is an ongoing initiative between police agencies, PennDOT and North Central Highway Safety Network for additional enforcement of aggressive driving along our roadways to make them safer to travel for the motoring public," Upper Macungie Township Police Sgt. Cory Reader explained. "In addition to enforcement, the grant also helps educate the public about the dangers of aggressive driving and how crashes are directly related to these actions."

Reader said Upper Macungie police were selected based on data and statistics.

"The crash data reported by the police department is how PennDOT and NCHSN decide where enforcement is needed," he explained.

The police department received $1,000 in funding for this particular wave, which consisted three details with a varying number of officers participating in each one.

Officers mostly cited drivers for speeding and some traffic signal violations, Reader said.

"We also issued citations for seat belt usage, which is a zero tolerance area," he stated. "If you are stopped for a traffic violation and are not wearing your seat belt you will get two citations."

PennDOT recognizes speeding as one of the most frequent factors in crashes and is always striving to increase seat belt usage, Reader noted.

The area targeted for the aggressive driving project was along Route 100 and roadways within a one-mile radius of the intersection of Route 100 and Tilghman Street.

The morning rush hour was chosen to conduct the special police patrols.

"Generally we look at the highest volume of vehicles on the roadway," Reader stated. "This would be the morning and evening commute times."

In addition to these special police patrols, the Upper Macungie Police Department also strives to educate the public about safe driving by appearing at various businesses to hand out brochures about the program and talk to drivers about the dangers of aggressive driving.

"It's not all about writing someone a ticket. It's also important to try to change driving habits," Reader said.